Paphos Aquarium has closed its doors for the last time.
Owner Takis Tsiolis told the Cyprus Mail, “The business is no longer viable for us. We have been losing money hand over fist for the last two years and we can no longer sustain these kinds of losses. It’s a very sad situation.”
The aquarium closed on March 1, fourteen years after it opened in Paphos at an initial cost of £500,000.
The privately owned attraction opened in 1996 and has been popular with visitors and locals in the past. No expense was spared in creating a natural environment for the residents and fish and marine life from oceans, seas and rivers graced the venue’s specially designed and filtered tanks.
Seventy-two tanks held the creatures, including a crocodile tank.
But according to Tsiolis a number of factors have all led to the current situation.
“Most of the aquariums in other places are supported by the municipality or the authorities, but we are a private, family-run company.
“We have asked for help from the mayor and the municipality and other bodies, but no one came forward,” Tsiolis said.
According to the Paphos businessman, he presented a tender for the space of the En Plo gallery, which is situated in the harbour area of Kato Paphos two years ago.
“That would have been a perfect solution for us,” he said. “The port authority gave us the tender but the municipality refused to grant the licence – they didn’t give us a reason,” he said.
In addition to a sharp drop in holidaymakers to the coastal town, which has been hard hit by the global economic downturn, continuous construction in the close by areas of Poseidonos avenue and Theoskepasti church have meant that visitor numbers have dwindled to a trickle.
“Poor access to the aquarium just finished us off,” said Tsiolis.
As well as an impressive collection of fish and other sea creatures, the aquarium was also home to a number of sharks and a crocodile. More than 80 per cent of the animals have been sold to private buyers and a number will now be on show at the Ocean Aquarium in Ayia Napa.
“I wanted to build an aquarium in Paphos as a business venture, but also to improve the tourist product of my town,” the aquarium director said.
“I think the situation in Paphos is very bad as far as tourists are concerned and now they will be losing out.”
Tsiolis believes that unless everyone in Paphos takes action and works together, things will only get worse.
“Everyone here has to care about the town and about each other. The problem here is that most people are trying to hurt their neighbours and their businesses, instead of encouraging and supporting each other for our mutual benefit.”
“As I said before, it’s a very sad situation.”
